65 | WHOLE

We’d made it back to the Coven in record time, letting the comfortable silence stretch out between us. The gatekeepers didn’t say a thing when they opened the doors for us - really, they didn’t seem all that surprised to see Blue with me. As a matter of fact, no one gave either of us a second glance - judgemental or otherwise - when I led my mate straight to my room and shut the door behind us. It kind of unnerved me at first, feeling like this whole situation was beyond a little strange - but then I recalled everything the two of us had been through in the last year and decided it’s actually not the strangest thing to ever pass between us.

Nerves that had started up when the door was closed behind us had me uncomfortable for a bit, but then I looked to Blue, sensing his calm through the bond and felt it soothe me. After a few minutes of only slightly uncertain caution, we settled onto my bed and slept. Just slept. It was much easier to fall asleep, too, though maybe that was because of Blue’s arms wrapped around me from behind, his face in my hair.

When I wake up, fully refreshed and warm all the way through, I have a few moments of confusion. The weight of an arm around my waist, and my face pressed into the dark, cotton material of a shirt, the signature scent of parchment and pine helps my hazy mind clear. For a moment, one blissfully perfect second, everything is right with the world.

But then, of course, reality whispers to me from the mental clock in my mind…and I recall yesterday was Sunday. And Monday morning means school, something both Blue and I must have forgotten last night since neither of us set alarms to get up on time. My plan to avoid truancy and graduate from human high school slaps me in the face as I spot the soft reddish-pink hues of dawn light tinting the walls of my room.

I let out a string of curses and all but leap out of bed to scramble around for fresh clothes. Blue groans from my bed, the sound of him reaching across the empty sheets follow me as I go to the wardrobe and fish through it. I glance at him over my shoulder on instinct, my frantic hands pausing as I catch sight of his disheveled perfection sprawled out.

“Red, come back to bed,” Blue growls, rubbing his face into the pillow I’d slept on before blinking blearily at me. The slow movement of his eyelids and slight pout of his bottom lip have me considering his words as a flutter of heat rushes through me. For a second I want nothing more than to obey his words and dive back into his warm embrace - but being a few feet away from him gives some of my mind some defense against him.

“It’s Monday.” I remind him, shaking my head to clear it before ripping my eyes from his rumpled clothing as he sits up and stretches. *I need to find some pants. And a shirt. And socks*. I chant the list in my head as I go through the limited clothing I’ve stashed here…wondering when the last time I did laundry was as I pull the clothing from various shelves and hangers. The sound of my mattress creaking softly adds to the symphony of sounds in the room…along with shuffling steps.

“Hm,” Blue hums, letting out a stifled yawn, the sound of his footsteps get closer until I can feel the radiating heat of his body right behind me. “Red,” His scent, already heavy in the air of my room, throws a lusty-cloud over my mind, my stomach fluttering and senses suddenly alight with his presence.

“Hm?” I hum back, freezing as his arms wrap around my waist from behind and his chin comes to rest on my right shoulder. Blue lets of a deep sigh as he nuzzles the side of my neck, his lips skimming up the side of my jaw before resting at my temple. I try not to melt into the strength of his body, fighting my initial urge to turn around and give him a real kiss.

“Good morning.” He tells me, my heart nearly stumbling over itself as it leaps in my chest. The words are innocent, but his voice is deeper and gravely with the remnants of sleep, throwing my defenses to the ground like they were made of sticks.

“G-good morning.” I blurt out, blinking rapidly at the items of clothing in my hands. Blue leans back, gently moving the strands of hair from one side of my face and getting rid of my last defense against his tempting hotness. “Good morning.” I repeat as our eyes lock, taking in his smoldering monochromatic eyes and the sexy-sweet smirk I first fell in love with. I want to fall into them and never resurface.

“Want a ride to school?” Blue’s question comes out of left-field. I blink stupidly at him for a moment before remembering why we’re standing here. *Right - school…I can’t think with him this close.*

“Uh, no.” It almost hurts to deny him anything, but I manage, and clear my throat as I say the words again for mental fortification against his handsome-sway. “No, I’m good.” I need a few minutes away from him to properly function - or I may just accept his earlier offer and join him in bed. Blue grins at me, watching everything play out on my face before nodding and just as quickly leaning in to give me another innocent peck on the head before releasing me.

“Don’t be late.” He warns me, brushing the back of one hand against mine. The tiny brush of his skin against mine sends another *zing* through my nerve endings. And then he’s gone, leaving me blinking as my body and mind regain control. A tiny pang of disappointment grows in my chest becomes a gnawing ache when I can no longer sense him on Coven grounds.

It takes me a few extra minutes to refocus on the task of getting ready and I nearly scald myself with the rushed shower before hurrying to school. I haven’t been driving, like I used to, letting Mom use the car these last weeks, and make my way to school on foot. The run feels much faster than usual, and I find I’m barely out of breath when I walk into Homeroom.

Though the study sessions in the auditorium have ended and we’re back to the ‘normal’ schedule, everyone is slightly zoned-out and in their own worlds. Everyone meaning most of the humans who actually care about college admissions and getting good grades for the semester. I hadn’t noticed because of the haze of exhaustion I’d been fighting the last month. Now, after two nights of good sleep, I see it.

The bell rings just as I walk into the classroom and Ms. Salinger launches into her morning spiel and announcements before I can move from the doorway. Most of the class has taken their seats already, Darine’s face buried in another SAT prep book and Yuri half-asleep beside her. Behind them, my mate waits expectantly, arms crossed over his chest until the moment his gaze land on me and his stoic expression breaks into his signature smirk. I quickly move to my empty seat beside Blue - who’s also freshly showered and clothed - his eyes on me all the way from the door to my chair.

I then notice the small ache in my chest ebbs at the mere sight of him. *How is it that I’ve missed him in the short time we were apart?*

“Red,” Blue greets me with that warm smirk, reaching out to take my hand as I settle into my seat. The movement almost automatic as our finger interlink and his thumb begins stroking the back of my hand comfortingly. I suck in a deep breath to steady myself, swallowing hard to fight the pull between us and get out a semi-coherent sentence. *Something’s different*…

A thought hits me, the weight of it almost too jarring to stomach. I’m feeling great right now, the combination of fresh blood, good sleep, and being around Blue for more than a few hours has my mind working smoothly. Not to mention the balance of both my halves. Even the amulet wasn’t so great in getting the two side to be this compatible and silent. For once I feel better than I have before, better than the ‘normal’ I thought I was in. I feel…*whole*…and I’m not sure I can handle not being whole ever again now that I’ve gotten this little taste.

“So…question…” I begin softly after another deep breath. I’m practically muttering under my breath, but I know he hears me. “Would you consider repeating…um…” I feel my words fumble from my mind for a moment. My mind shoots out it’s usual doubting-missiles to tear holes in the resolve I’d had only seconds ago. Blue gently squeezes my hand, drawing my attention back to him. It’s only then I realize his mental defenses are down. *When had they been take down?* The baffled thought races through me as I mentally backtrack the whole morning - realizing a second later that it’s been like this from the moment we met up last night.

“Yeah, Red, I can stay with you.” Blue replies, using my same near-silent whisper, though the joy in his mind speaks volumes. “Though we may have to change venues next time.” He adds, glancing at Yuri with an almost scathing, narrowed-eyed look of annoyance. I blink, almost smacking my own forehead as I realize that Blue - the Azure Alpha - was gone from his territory for an entire night.

“I can work with that.” I blurt out almost a little too loud. A few people seem to hear me and curiously glance back at us. My face burns as I look straight ahead at Ms. Salinger, who’s talking about filling out last minute-information on FAFSA and college applications. Blue chuckles under his breath and I feel an immense relief roll over my jittery thoughts and smooth everything in me. When it’s safe to look back at my mate. We grin at each other for a long moment before I settle back in my seat, overjoyed and more at ease than ever.